A Fortune of Sand

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Think about your initial reaction to the novel’s opening. What expectations did Marjorie’s trip to the police station over her leaf-tunic costume set for you as a reader? How did the story either meet or subvert those expectations as it unfolded?

2. How did you feel about the world of Detroit’s wealthy auto aristocracy? Did it remind you of other stories set in the Roaring Twenties, like F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, and in what ways was it similar or different?

3. What did you think of the book’s blend of historical fiction, family saga, and mystery? Which of these elements resonated most with you, and what scene or image has stayed with you since finishing the book?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Marjorie’s passion for fashion design is an important part of her identity. Has there been a creative outlet or personal passion in your own life that has helped you express yourself or navigate a challenging period?

2. What does the friendship between Marjorie, Ivy, and Bernice offer each of them? Think about a time when a friendship offered you an important source of support or a different perspective on your situation.

3. The Lennox family keeps many secrets, from Chet concealing her obituary writing to the family’s involvement in criminal activity. What does the novel suggest about how secrets shape family dynamics and individual identities? Have secrets or unspoken issues ever affected the dynamics of a group you belonged to?

4. Marjorie frequently comes into conflict with her family over her choices and their expectations of her. Think about a time you felt a conflict between being true to yourself and meeting the expectations of a group, whether it was family, work, or friends. How did you handle that situation?

5. Graham wears his eye patch as a “badge of his dishonor” to remind others of his father’s cruelty (281). Have you ever used a physical object, a piece of clothing, or a particular habit as a form of personal expression or quiet rebellion?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel depicts women facing the possibility of institutionalization at the request of husbands or family members. What does this suggest about women’s autonomy in the period? Do you see echoes of these attitudes toward women’s emotions or behavior today?

2. The story places the Lennox family’s industrial wealth alongside jewel theft and other criminal activity. How does the novel portray the connections between wealthy families and crime in 1920s Detroit? Do any aspects of this portrayal feel relevant today?

3. The novel portrays both the private Nightingale evaluation program and the real-life Eloise Asylum. How do the different women’s experiences with these institutions reflect the social attitudes of the period? What connections, if any, do you see with attitudes toward mental healthcare today?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does Marjorie change over the course of the novel, and which of her qualities remain consistent? What specific moments are most important to her development?

2. Glass and jewels serve as recurring elements throughout the novel. What meanings do they acquire as the story develops, particularly in relation to the Lennox family?

3. What is your assessment of Luc Bonafante? How do his methods and moral code shape your understanding of his character? How does he compare with Duncan Lennox?

4. The Nightingale is presented first as an arts residency and later revealed to be an evaluation program. How does Sepetys use the rules, the architecture, and the secrecy of the building to develop its significance in the novel?

5. What does Cecile’s fascination with jewelry, including the stolen ruby necklace she wears, reveal about her character and her relationship with the Lennox family’s wealth? How does she compare with Marjorie?

6. Sepetys describes the novel as drawing on long-forgotten stories from Detroit’s history. How does her focus on a specific, forgotten Detroit jewel heist in A Fortune of Sand compare to her other works of historical fiction? How effective did you find this approach to historical fiction?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were adapting A Fortune of Sand for the screen, which actors would you cast in the lead roles of Marjorie, Luc Bonafante, and Duncan Lennox? What qualities do they have that would make them suited to these roles?

2. Imagine you could write a final scene for Graham and Chet one year after the novel’s end. What are they doing, and how have their relationship and their roles within the Lennox family changed?

3. Based on Marjorie’s fashion designs in the novel, including the tree tunic, what do you think would be the signature style of the “M. J. Lennox” brand? Describe an outfit from her first official collection.